How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (2024)

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ByLauren

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Looking for an easy vanilla fudge recipe? Wondering how to make vanilla fudge?

Trust me, I was too. I spent hours online and looked and looked. I tried and tried again. More often than not, I ended up with something that resembled Scottish tablet over fudge and that’s why I had to write this recipe for soft fudge down!

I like my recipes simple and this is a one-pan wonder which I have tried to make as fuss-free as I can while still providing those delicious results that you are looking for.

If a really basic fudge recipe if what you’re after, then make sure to look below!

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (1)

Overview

Makes: 40+ pieces
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
Total time: 2 hours 30 mins (plus 2 hour rest time)

Ingredients

  • 400g Caster sugar
  • 150ml Whole milk
  • 1 tin Condensed milk (397g)
  • 25g Unsalted butter
  • 2tsp Vanilla extract

Utensils

Optional

  • Parchment paper
  • Baking/Sugar thermometer

Instructions

  1. Add your 400g caster sugar, 150ml whole milk, full tin of condensed milk, 25g unsalted butter and 2tsp vanilla to your saucepan and place on a low heat.
  2. Stir gently until all the ingredients have melted and you can no longer feel the sugar grains under your wooden spoon/spatula.
  3. Once your mix is smooth, you want to turn up the heat to a rolling boil.

    Allow this to bubble away with gentle stirring for approximately 15 minutes.

    The mix should begin to thicken under your spoon.

  4. Use a baking thermometer to check the readiness of your fudge, you are looking for this to reach approximately 115°C.

    For those of you (myself included) that do not have a baking thermometer to measure the temperature, we are instead going to check for the soft ball stage.

    So, grab a glass or bowl of cold water and after around 10-15 minutes of boiling, let some of the mixture drop into your water.

    If when you remove it from the water, you can form a soft ball with your fingers, you are done!

  5. Remove your pan from the heat and allow the mix to cool for around 5 minutes.

    It should begin to form a skin in that time.

  6. Then, you want to put in some real arm work and mix, mix, mix with your spatula or wooden spoon until the mix really thickens and loses its sheen.

    It will begin to look matte and resemble what you would consider fudge at this stage.

  7. At this stage, you want to add your mix to your square baking tin and smooth it out to cover all the edges.

    I like to use the back of the spoon as best I can to achieve a smooth surface on top.

  8. Now, you can either pop your fudge into the refrigerator to chill or leave it to set at room temperature.

    It should take around 2 hours but I tend to leave this overnight.

  9. Cut into round 1″ squares.

    Enjoy!

Storage

Store in an airtight container.

This fudge should keep for 1-2 weeks at room temperature.

If refrigerated, fudge can last 2-3 weeks.

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Yield: 40+ pieces

Vanilla Fudge Recipe

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (5)

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Additional Time2 hours

Total Time2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 400g Caster sugar
  • 150ml Whole milk
  • 1 tin Condensed milk (397g)
  • 25g Unsalted butter
  • 2tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Add your 400g caster sugar, 150ml whole milk, full tin of condensed milk, 25g unsalted butter and 2tsp vanilla to your saucepan and place on a low heat.
  2. Stir gently until all the ingredients have melted and you can no longer feel the sugar grains under your wooden spoon/spatula.
  3. Once your mix is smooth, you want to turn up the heat to a rolling boil.Allow this to bubble away with gentle stirring for approximately 15 minutes.The mix should begin to thicken under your spoon.
  4. Use a baking thermometer to check the readiness of your fudge, you are looking for this to reach approximately 115°C.For those of you (myself included) that do not have a baking thermometer to measure the temperature, we are instead going to check for the soft ball stage.So, grab a glass or bowl of cold water and after around 10-15 minutes of boiling, let some of the mixture drop into your water.If when you remove it from the water, you can form a soft ball with your fingers, you are done!
  5. Remove your pan from the heat and allow the mix to cool for around 5 minutes.It should begin to form a skin in that time.
  6. Then, you want to put in some real arm work and mix, mix, mix with your spatula or wooden spoon until the mix really thickens and loses its sheen.It will begin to look matte and resemble what you would consider fudge at this stage.
  7. At this stage, you want to add your mix to your square baking tin and smooth it out to cover all the edges.I like to use the back of the spoon as best I can to achieve a smooth surface on top.
  8. Now, you can either pop your fudge into the refrigerator to chill or leave it to set at room temperature.It should take around 2 hours but I tend to leave this overnight.
  9. Cut into round 1″ squares

Notes

Store in an airtight container.

This fudge should keep for 1-2 weeks at room temperature.

If refrigerated, fudge can last 2-3 weeks.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 49Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 0g

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (6)

Lauren

Peter may be the go to guy for travel tips and information but I like to think I bring the heart (maybe even a little humour) back into our writing.

I’m Scottish and proud, a millennial 30 something and your stereotypical girls girl but as opposed to what the press may say, I don’t see those as negatives and neither should you!

How To Make Vanilla Fudge | Easy Vanilla Fudge Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vanilla fudge made of? ›

Mix confectioners sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and salt in a 3-quart saucepan over low heat until mixture is hot and creamy. Pour into the prepared pan; refrigerate until fudge has set, about 2 hours. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

What is the secret to good fudge? ›

Valuable tips for successful fudge
  • Don't stir during cooking. Fudge can be cooked on the stove or in the microwave. ...
  • Avoid crystallization. During cooking, sugar crystals can stick to the sides of the pan. ...
  • Let cool before beating. After being cooked, the sugar must crystallize again to create fudge. ...
  • Beat the mixture.

Why is my 3 ingredient fudge not setting? ›

The main reason is that your Fudge has not reached the optimum temperature. If your mixture only reaches 110 or 112 degrees Celsius it will always be soft. That's why we recommend investing in a sugar thermometer. Another reason your Fudge is not setting is that the ratio of liquid to sugar is too high.

What is traditional fudge made of? ›

Fudge is a dense, rich confection typically made with sugar, milk or cream, butter and chocolate or other flavorings. The base for fudge is boiled until it reaches the soft-ball stage (135 to 140 degrees F), then stirred or beaten as it cools to minimize the formation of sugar crystals.

What happened to vanilla fudge? ›

Following the release of their final album, Rock & Roll, Vanilla Fudge played a few U.S. farewell dates and disbanded in early 1970, although they have reunited and toured together since.

What does cream of tartar do in fudge? ›

Cream of tartar is used in caramel sauces and fudge to help prevent the sugar from crystallizing while cooking. It also prevents cooling sugars from forming brittle crystals, this is why it's the secret ingredient in snickerdoodles!

What is the secret to smooth fudge that is not gritty? ›

Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has come to a boil, do not stir it. If you do, the sugar can crystallize, giving your fudge a gritty texture. As you beat the fudge, pay attention to color and texture. Once the fudge loses its sheen and thickens, put down your spoon.

Why is fudge so hard to make? ›

Making fudge can be a challenging endeavor, requiring precision and attention to detail to achieve the perfect texture and consistency. The process of making fudge involves a delicate balance of cooking, cooling, and beating, and the smallest mistake can result in fudge that is too soft or too hard.

Do you stir fudge when it's boiling? ›

Avoid Stirring Once the Mixture Comes to a Simmer

Another key part of a successful fudge texture is when you stir the mixture. Stirring the sugar and milk during the initial stages of cooking allows the sugar to dissolve. However, once the mixture comes to a boil, it's time to put the spoon down.

How do you firm up homemade fudge? ›

The amount of time you cook fudge directly affects its firmness. Too little time and the water won't evaporate, causing the fudge to be soft. Conversely, cook it too long and fudge won't contain enough water, making it hard with a dry, crumbly texture.

How long to boil fudge to soft ball stage? ›

How long does it take to make fudge:
  1. about 18 min to reach boiling.
  2. about 40 minutes to reach soft ball stage.
  3. 60 minutes to cool.
  4. 28 minutes to beat in a KitchenAid (your time for this may vary)
  5. 4 hours to set.

How do you cut fudge so it doesn't crumble? ›

If you have difficulty cutting or if the fudge crumbles with the cuts, try warming the metal knife (or wheel or whatever) in hot water between cuts. Wipe the hot knife dry before cutting. Whatever you use, always wipe the cutting implement clean between cuts.

What is vanilla fudge? ›

Traditional vanilla fudge is a mix of sugar, sweetened condensed milk, butter and vanilla (for obvious reasons, our traditional family recipe is a closely guarded secret).

What ingredient makes fudge hard? ›

Too cooked

At this temperature, the sugar is too concentrated and there is not enough water left to form syrup around sugar crystals. The result is hard and brittle fudge. To save the fudge, put it in a saucepan with 45 to 60 ml (3 or 4 tbsp.)

How long does homemade fudge last? ›

Typically, homemade fudge lasts about 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature, 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge, and up to 3 months in the freezer when stored in an airtight container.

What is vanilla fudge famous for? ›

Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, such as their hit cover of the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On".

What's the difference between fudge and brownies? ›

Fudge doesn't contain very much besides chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and if you want some inclusions like nuts, marshmallows, cookies, cacao nibs, peanut butter, dried fruit and so on. Whereas brownies contain cacao powder (no chocolate!), flour, eggs, butter or oil, baking powder and nuts.

What is white fudge made of? ›

Common Questions About Making White Chocolate Fudge

All you have to do is combine a can of sweetened condensed milk, 3 cups white chocolate chips, and 2 tablespoons butter in a pan, cooking until everything has melted together.

What is the purpose of vanilla extract in fudge? ›

What does vanilla extract do for fudge? Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the chocolate. So while it is not a necessary ingredient or can be left out, it is not one I recommend skipping, as it adds to the overall flavor of the fudge.

References

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